Saturday, December 14, 2013

Another Turn of the Sun…

Today, I have travelled around the sun forty-two times - I am well travelled!

The last turn of the sun has been pretty good on the whole. I was pretty stressed this time last year, but many, many things have improved. We have a car now. We are living in a house without fear of being turfed out suddenly. I am doing the PhD I have dreamed of doing for the past thirty years. Erik has just finished his first year of high school and did so with two As, a B and a host of Cs - which is outstanding for him. Moreover, he made friends easily. I have some answers with regard to his idiosyncrasies, which has helped, though there is still a ways to go. I have been blessed with a great circle of friends, which has only increased this year. I feel appreciated and cared for, and a valuable member of the communities I participate in.

Dave and I celebrated 15 years of marriage last month. I feel blessed that our relationship forges ahead with a strength I could not have imagined. All I wanted, from a very young age, was to meet someone to share my life with. Dave wasn't who I expected, but as it turns out, sometimes you don't always get what you think you want, but rather what you actually need.

Mum and Lester moved back to Victoria and having them close by has been amazing. The sense of extended family, getting together regularly, celebrating events together, even just having someone around to help with the practicalities of running a large household - it has been life-affirming!

My dad joined Facebook, and I'm sure he doesn't even realise it, but having him comment on posts from time to time is very reassuring to me - knowing he's out there watching.

Dad apologising to Mum and them reconnecting, even just in a limited fashion has been like a dream come true.

The kids have grown so much this last solar return. Lukas is about to finish up at primary school - I can hardly believe it! He is looking forward to going to high school even though none of his friends will be going with him. He is excited about dedicating time to learning to play the guitar and learning to design computer games - among other things. The past couple of years of primary school have been a challenge for him, with a lot of emotional upheaval (which he always buries quite deep below the surface so only his parents knowing eye can detect it). So going to high school will hopefully offer a fresh beginning for him.

Bryn is leaving junior school. He is excited about moving up, and why wouldn't he be, everyone loves him - his teachers, his friends, his family. He lives something of a charmed life at the moment. I hope that never changes for him.

Ari is finishing up at kindergarten and really looking forward to joining Bryn at primary school. He has enjoyed his time at kinder and had wonderful teachers there. He is such a happy kid. He has longed to make friends and has maybe not been as successful as he hoped to be, but he has persisted being optimistic and open towards other kids and at the end of the year he has finally succeeded in making connections - I think this bodes well for starting school next year.

About Me

Writer At the Bottom of the Garden. I'm a 40 year old mum to four boys, married to an architypical "Grumpy Old Man" and living in Melbourne, Australia. Writing is my passion (and the thorn in my side, as well). I tend to think too much and then spew forth my thoughts like a Jackson Pollock painting. So, don't stand too close :).